School and Work Status, Drug-Free Workplace Protections, and Prescription Drug Misuse Among Americans Ages 15-25

摘要

PRESCRIPTION USE OF psychotherapeutic medications is advantageous for relief of acute and chronic pain as well as physical conditions requiring sedation or stimulation of the central nervous system. Increasingly, prescription drugs are being used in a nonmedical manner or being overused, causing a rise in rates of grave medical consequences including escalation to abuse or dependence on heroin, overdose injury, and death (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2013). Consequently, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (2011) has declared prescription drug misuse a public health crisis in the United States. The problem is acute for young adults (ages 15-25). The prescription drug misuse rate rises from 7% at ages 12-17 to a lifetime peak of 13% at ages 18-25 (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2013). Most young adult misuse is of prescription pain medication, followed by sedatives/tranquilizers, then stimulants (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2013). Other illicit drug use also peaks at ages 18-25 (SAMHSA, 2013).